1
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,070
INDIAN DRUMMING
2
00:00:23,785 --> 00:00:25,286
Servant of God.
3
00:00:41,555 --> 00:00:43,056
Right.
4
00:01:00,635 --> 00:01:03,866
In your opinion you think
it has successfully stopped?
5
00:01:06,535 --> 00:01:07,615
Good.
6
00:01:10,335 --> 00:01:14,645
I heard about the Devadasi system
two years ago.
7
00:01:14,645 --> 00:01:18,535
It was described as an ancient
Hindu tradition in which young girls
8
00:01:18,535 --> 00:01:23,563
are married to God in childhood,
and then at puberty sold for sex -
9
00:01:25,055 --> 00:01:27,785
the money they earn given
to their families.
10
00:01:29,365 --> 00:01:33,205
The practice was made illegal
more than 60 years ago,
11
00:01:33,205 --> 00:01:35,605
but in spite of official denials,
12
00:01:35,605 --> 00:01:39,495
there are still an estimated 30,000
Devadasis
13
00:01:39,495 --> 00:01:44,228
in the villages and towns
of Karnataka, Southern India.
14
00:06:25,115 --> 00:06:29,235
They say the Devadasi are dedicated
to serve the goddess,
15
00:06:29,235 --> 00:06:32,523
but what does the goddess
do for the Devadasi?
16
00:06:48,785 --> 00:06:55,815
In the Devadasi system girls are
dedicated whilst still children
to the goddess Yellamma,
17
00:06:55,815 --> 00:07:00,365
a Hindu goddess solely
worshipped by the Dalit caste,
18
00:07:00,365 --> 00:07:03,265
once known as the untouchables.
19
00:07:03,265 --> 00:07:06,035
The culmination of the ceremony
20
00:07:06,035 --> 00:07:08,705
is the tying of red and white beads
around her neck.
21
00:07:08,705 --> 00:07:15,178
Now she is Devadasi, literally
translated "slave of God".
22